Denmark senior guard Brady Jens doesn’t want to make this week too much about him and his family.

If his father could say something to his son right now, Brady thinks he likely would tell him the attention shouldn't be on him or his death. He’d want Brady to be focused on his teammates during a week in which the Vikings are playing at the WIAA state boys basketball tournament for the first time since 1985.

With Brady so active in sports growing up, Jeff knew many of the kids who will play Thursday afternoon in a Division 3 state semifinal against Waupun at the Kohl Center in Madison.

He was sitting on the bench during a seventh-grade state tournament in March 2014, helping to keep the books and encouraging his son and future Denmark teammates.

Jack Satori, who has been friends with Brady since elementary school, checked out of the game and sat next to Jeff. The Denmark senior forward always considered Jeff another father figure and coach.

He offered encouraging words to Satori on this day, telling him he was having a good game. A short time later, Jeff collapsed on the floor and was taken to a La Crosse hospital. As he was being carried out, the kids huddled and said a prayer. They knew it was serious, but figured they’d see him again.

They never did.

Jeff died from a heart attack at 55, the same weekend his son helped lead his middle school team to a 4-0 record with what Satori remembers as two or three buzzer-beating shots.

“He was always pushing you to do your best,” Satori said of Jeff. “As a kid growing up, I learned not to take anything for granted. Kind of going along with this state trip here, just don’t take anything for granted, because you never know what will last and what won’t last.

“That’s what I took away from it. Always be the best person you can be. Anyone can go through tough times. You should always be there for them, and Brady is the perfect example of that kind of kid. He’s been through it all. Everything, and he’s just an amazing kid.”

One of Jeff’s passions was sports. He enjoyed golf and calling into a local radio show. He loved watching his children play sports.

Basketball was one of the ways Jeff and Brady connected. They’d watch a game together and talk about it. It’s those moments Brady is most thankful for now.

“He was always that joyful person that was always there for everybody. … He was a very humble person,” Brady said. “That’s what I admired most about him.”

A son growing up without his father is difficult. It only was made easier because of a mother who shouldered the burden of the loss in a way her son loves her dearly for. Carie Jens helped life go on for Brady, his brother, Gunner, and sister, McCartney.

His sister is named after Paul McCartney because Jeff was a big fan of him and the Beatles. It has even more meaning for the family now.

“Her ability to overcome what she has and set a good example for her kids is just unbelievable,” Brady said of his mother. “I’m very appreciative of the attitude she took towards it and what she gave to her kids.”

Losing his father the way he did isn’t something Brady can forget. But like anything in his life, he’s been taught to break through obstacles by giving his best.

He learned at a young age that there will be some big highs and rough lows in life, and that he must keep pushing when things aren’t perfect. It’s something he brought up more than once during a recent conversation.

Just keep pushing. Just keep pushing.

It has been that way for him this season, when he suffered a badly sprained left ankle at a practice in late November only to find out he had a fracture.

He has been limited to 13 games but still eclipsed 1,000 career points in February. Brady is averaging 9.5 points and is part of a strong trio of scorers that includes fellow seniors Zane Short (20.5 ppg) and Patrick Suemnick (19 ppg).

It’s a big reason Denmark has gone 22-4, won a share of the North Eastern Conference title and has the community perhaps even more excited than 1985, when the Vikings won a Class B state championship.

Brady had a fear in the back of his mind after his injury about things going wrong or his prep career being done without getting another chance. He’s thankful his foot healed enough. He’s not close to 100 percent, but he feels good enough to play on it.

Yes, he’s just going to keep pushing.

“I wanted to be there for the guys,” Brady said. “If I have to tough it out a little bit, then that’s what I have to do.”

It’s that kind of attitude that has endeared him to teammates. His dad was proud of him when he was in middle school. He’d likely be beaming now at the way his son has turned out by the end of high school.

After Denmark beat Freedom in a sectional championship on Saturday, teammates hugged an emotional Brady. The win meant a lot to him. He had a feeling his father was watching.

“Brady is just a kid who comes every day with a smile on his face,” Satori said. “He will ask anyone how they are doing. Brady is just that lovable guy that you look for a smile or just to be a great friend.”